Pick-up head having a re-circulating air system for a mobile sweeping vehicle

ABSTRACT

A pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. There is at least one re-circulating air inlet for receiving a flow of air into the housing, and a dust and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. A blower fan has an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet is connected in fluid communication to the at least one re-circulating air inlet of the housing for providing a source of high velocity re-circulating air for introduction to the housing. The air inlet is operatively connected in fluid communication to the dust and debris outlet of the housing for removing debris-laden air therefrom. There is a selectively operable motor for operating the fan means.

This application is a non-provisional application claiming priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/975,510 filed on Sep. 26, 2007, which is herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to factory and sidewalk sweepers, and more particularly to pick-up heads for factory and sidewalk sweepers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sidewalk sweepers and factory floor sweepers of various types are used to sweep debris in many different types of locations. Sidewalk sweepers are typically used to sweep sidewalks, parking lots, and so on, and must sweep along curbs and the sides of buildings in order to sweep dust and debris that is adjacent to the curbs and buildings. Factory floor sweepers are typically used to sweep aisle ways in factories and warehouses, and the like.

Many the sidewalk sweepers or factory sweepers have a re-circulating air system that is mounted on the vehicle, for drawing dust and debris laden air from the pick-up head to the hopper. There are no air-recirculating systems that are mounted on the pick-up head itself. This is disadvantageous for several reasons, including loss of air power between the blower fan and the pick-up head, lack of consistent air flow to effectively remove dust from the surface being cleaned, especially when the pick-up head breaks sealed relation with the surface being cleaned, and the lack of matching the specifications of the blower fan to the specifications of the pick-up head.

It should be noted that the above described situation of having debris pass over the pick-up head is exacerbated by the fact that the outer ends of some pick-up heads are lower than the central portion. Such lowering of the outer ends of the pick-up head is due to the need to reduce the cross-sectional area of the pick-up head at its outer ends, in order to maintain airflow, and therefore suctioning, towards the outer ends of the pick-up head. Unfortunately, the lower outer ends of the pick-up heads tends to permit debris to readily pass over the outer end portions of the pickup head, which is unacceptable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper, wherein the blower fan is mounted on the pick-up head.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper, wherein the loss of air power between the blower fan and the pick-up head is minimized.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper, wherein air flow to the pick-up head is consistently effective to remove dust from a surface being cleaned.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper, wherein the blower fan can be matched to the specifications of the pick-up head.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a novel pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle. The pick-up head comprises a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into the substantially hollow interior of the housing. There is at least one re-circulating air inlet for receiving a flow of air into the housing, and a dust and debris outlet in the housing for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior of the housing into a hopper. A fan means has an air inlet and an air outlet. The air outlet is connected in fluid communication to the at least one re-circulating air inlet of the housing for providing a source of high velocity re-circulating air for introduction to the housing. The air inlet is operatively connected in fluid communication to the dust and debris outlet of the housing for removing debris-laden air therefrom. There is a selectively operable motor means for operating the fan means.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described herein below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle according to the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment of the pick-up head according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeping vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the first preferred embodiment pick-up head of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the second preferred embodiment pick-up head according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the second preferred embodiment pick-up head of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the third preferred embodiment pick-up head according to the present invention, in use on a mobile sweeper vehicle; and,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view from the front of the third preferred embodiment pick-up head of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7 of the drawings, it will be noted that FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate a first preferred embodiment of the variable width pick-up head of the present invention, FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a second preferred embodiment of the variable width pick-up head of the present invention, and FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a third preferred embodiment of the variable width pick-up head of the present invention.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 1 through 3, which show a preferred embodiment of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle 22 according to the present invention, as indicated by general reference numeral 20. The pick-up head 20 for a mobile sweeping vehicle 22 comprises a housing 30 defining a substantially hollow interior 31 and having a front 32, a back 33, a left end 34 and a right end 35, a top 36 and a bottom 37. There is a suctioning bottom opening 38 for suctioning dust and small debris, such as dirt and small stones, and the like, into the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30. There is at least one re-circulating air inlet receiving a flow of air into the housing. In the first preferred embodiment as illustrated, the at least one re-circulating air inlet comprises a left re-circulating air inlet disposed at the left end of the pick-up head and a right re-circulating air inlet disposed at the right end of the pick-up head. There is also a dust and debris outlet 39 in the housing 30 for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30 into a hopper 23 that is mounted at the back of the mobile sweeping vehicle 22, via a duct 26. The dust and debris outlet 39 is preferably disposed in the back 33 of the housing 30, so as to take advantage of the relative travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head 20 as the mobile sweeping vehicle 22 travels forwardly.

The pick-up head 20 further comprises a suctioning front opening 60 disposed in the front of the housing 30 for receiving debris into the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30, and in debris receiving relation with respect to a surface being cleaned. Preferably, the suctioning front opening 60 is disposed generally centrally in the front of the housing 30. It will also be noted that the dust and debris outlet 39 is generally centrally disposed in the back of the housing 30, so as to be generally laterally aligned with the suctioning front opening 60. The suctioning front opening 60 needs to be large enough to accept large debris, such as most sizes of cans and bottles therethrough.

A selectively openable and closable door means 70 is operatively mounted on the pick-up head 20, at the suctioning front opening 60, for selectively opening and closing the suctioning front opening 60. The openable and closeable door means 70 comprises at least one door member mounted in hinged relation on the housing 30. In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated, the openable and closeable door means 70 comprises a single door 70 mounted by means of a horizontally oriented top hinge 72. Preferably, the at least one door member 70 is mounted so as to open inwardly into the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30. In this manner, the door member 70 opens in the same direction as the relative travel of debris with respect to the pick-up head 20 as the mobile sweeping vehicle 22 travels forwardly.

There is a fan means 80 having an air inlet and an air outlet. In the preferred embodiment as illustrated, the fan means 80 comprises a left blower fan 80 a and a right blower fan 80 b. The air outlet 82 a of the left blower fan 80 a is connected in fluid communication to the left air inlet 30 a at the left end of the housing 30. Similarly, the air outlet 82 b of the right blower fan 80 b is also connected in fluid communication to the right re-circulating air inlet 30 b at the right end of the housing 30. The blower fans 80 a, 80 b accordingly provide a source of high velocity re-circulating air for introduction to the housing 30.

The air inlet 81 a of the left blower fan 80 a is operatively connected in fluid communication to the dust and debris outlet 39 of the housing 30 through a left return air hose 84 a and via the hopper 23 and air filter (not shown), for removing debris therefrom. Similarly, the air inlet 81 b of the right blower fan 80 a is operatively connected in fluid communication to the dust and debris outlet 39 of the housing 30 through a right return air hose 84 b and via the hopper 23 and air filter (not shown), for removing debris therefrom.

There is also a selectively operable motor means for operating the left blower fan 80 a and the right blower fan 80 a. Preferably, the selectively operable motor means comprises a high speed electric motor 86 a, 86 b, in the left blower fan 80 a and the right blower fan 80 b, respectively.

In use, as the mobile sweeping vehicle 22 travels forwardly, dust and debris on the surface being cleaned 29 are encountered by the pick-up head 20, and the dust and small debris enter the substantially hollow interior 31 of the housing 30 via the suctioning bottom opening 38. The left blower fan 80 a and the right blower fan 80 b each blow a strong blast of air transversely across half the width of the pick-up head 20, partially onto the surface being cleaned, to carry dust, dirt and debris within the pick-up head 20 to the central dust and debris outlet 39 in the housing 30. The dust, dirt and debris are suctioned to the hopper 23 and filter, and the filtered air is returned to the left blower fan 80 a through the left return air hose 84 a and to the right blower fan 80 a through the right return air hose 84 b.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 4 and 5, which show a second preferred embodiment of the pick-up head according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 220. The second preferred embodiment pick-up head 220 is similar to the first preferred embodiment pick-up head 20, except that there is only one single blower fan 280 on the pick-up head 220, with the air outlet 281 of the blower fan 280 being directed to and corrected in fluid communication with the left re-circulating air inlet 281 a of the housing 230 by a left return air hose 284 a and directed to and connected in fluid communication with the right re-circulating air inlet 281 b of the housing 230 by a right return air hose 284 b.

Reference will now be made to FIGS. 6 and 7, which show a third preferred embodiment of the pick-up head according to the present invention, as indicated by reference numeral 320. The third preferred embodiment pick-up head 320 is similar to the second preferred embodiment pick-up head 220, except that the housing 330 of the pick-up head is substantially straight, and is angled back from right to left. Further the door member 370 is not centrally disposed, but is disposed at the left end of the pick-up head 220. Debris that contacts the front wall 330 f of the housing 330 of the pick-up head 320 moves along the entire length of the housing 330 to the door member. There is also a debris-trapping plate 375 disposed at the left end of the pick-up head 220 for precluding debris from travelling past the door member 370. The fan means comprises a single blower fan 380 and is disposed at the right end of the pick-up head 320 and connected in fluid communication to the single (right) re-circulating inlet 381, at the opposite end to the air suctioning hose 385. The suctioning front opening is disposed adjacent the opposite other end of the housing as the single right re-circulating air inlet. In this manner, the stream of air from the single blower fan 380 traverses the entire width of the pick-up head 320.

As can be understood from the above description and from the accompanying drawings, the present invention provides a pick-up head for use with a sidewalk sweeper and a factory floor sweeper, wherein there is virtually no air borne dust created in use by the gutter brooms of the sweeper, wherein there is virtually no particulate matter created in use by the gutter brooms of the sweeper, wherein there is virtually no particulate matter having a size of less than 10 microns created in use by the gutter brooms of the sweeper, wherein small debris is readily received by the gutter brooms, wherein there is virtually no air borne dust and particulate matter that escapes into the ambient surroundings during use by the gutter brooms of the sweeper while still permitting the air suctioning or air re-circulating system to function at its required capacity, wherein said sweeper does not use water for dust suppression, and wherein the path of dust and debris that is created by the gutter brooms is always picked up by the pick up head, all of which features are unknown in the prior art.

Other variations of the above principles will be apparent to those who are knowledgeable in the field of the invention, and such variations are considered to be within the scope of the present invention. Further, other modifications and alterations may be used in the design and manufacture of the pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the accompanying claims. 

1. A pick-up head for a mobile sweeping vehicle, said pick-up head comprising: a housing defining a substantially hollow interior and having a front, a back, a left end and a right end, a top and a bottom, a suctioning bottom opening for suctioning dust and small debris into said substantially hollow interior of said housing; at least one re-circulating air inlet for receiving a flow of air into said housing; a dust and debris outlet in said housing for permitting dust and debris to be suctioned from said substantially hollow interior of said housing into a hopper; fan means having an air inlet and an air outlet, wherein said air outlet is connected in fluid communication to said at least one re-circulating air inlet of said housing for providing a source of high velocity re-circulating air for introduction to said housing, and said air inlet is operatively connected in fluid communication to said dust and debris outlet of said housing for removing debris-laden air therefrom; and, selectively operable motor means for operating said fan means.
 2. The pick-up head of claim 1, wherein said at least one re-circulating air inlet comprises a left re-circulating air inlet and a right re-circulating air inlet.
 3. The pick-up head of claim 2, wherein said left re-circulating air inlet is disposed at the left end of the pick-up head and said right re-circulating air inlet is disposed at the right end of the pick-up head.
 4. The pick-up head of claim 3, wherein said fan means comprises a left blower fan connected in fluid communication to the left re-circulating air inlet and a right blower fan connected in fluid communication to the right re-circulating air inlet.
 5. The pick-up head of claim 3, wherein said fan means comprises a single blower fan connected in fluid communication to said left re-circulating air inlet and said right re-circulating air inlet.
 6. The pick-up head of claim 1, wherein said at least one re-circulating air inlet comprises a single re-circulating air inlet, and wherein said fan means comprises a single blower fan connected in fluid communication to said left re-circulating air inlet and said right re-circulating air inlet.
 7. The pick-up head of claim 6, wherein said housing is substantially straight.
 8. The pick-up head of claim 6, wherein said single re-circulating air inlet is disposed at one end of said housing.
 9. The pick-up head of claim 8, wherein said suctioning front opening is disposed adjacent the opposite other end of said housing as said single re-circulating air inlet.
 10. The pick-up head of claim 1, further comprising a suctioning front opening disposed in the front of said housing for receiving debris into said substantially hollow interior of said housing.
 11. The pick-up head of claim 10, wherein said suctioning front opening is disposed generally centrally in the front of said housing.
 12. The pick-up head of claim 11, further comprising a selectively openable and closable door means operatively mounted on said pick-up head for selectively opening and closing said suctioning front opening.
 13. The pick-up head of claim 12, wherein said openable and closeable door means comprises at least one door member mounted in hinged relation on said housing.
 14. The pick-up head of claim 13, wherein said at least one door member is mounted so as to open inwardly into the substantially hollow interior of said housing.
 15. The pick-up head of claim 1, wherein said dust and debris outlet is disposed in the back of said housing.
 16. The pick-up head of claim 15, wherein said dust and debris outlet is generally centrally disposed in said back of said housing. 